Steelers Continue Hot Start With Dominant Win Over Browns

The Browns offense began to wake up on the final drive of the first half, as they moved down the field much better than either team had to that point in the game. Catches by tight end David Njoku and wide reciever Jerry Jeudy allowed the run game to take off, and the Browns got into the red zone for the first time of the game. With the time running out, the Browns opted to kick a field goal, giving them points for the first time in the game. The game went into halftime at 9-3 Steelers.

On the first drive of the second half, the Steelers nearly forced a turnover right as the drive had kicked off, as Jabrill Peppers forced a fumble on Gabriel. Unfortunately for the Steelers, T.J. Watt was found to be offsides, and the Steelers had force a punt later in the drive in order to get the ball back. A 68-yard punt by Corey Bojorquez gave the Steelers a tough field position to begin their first drive of the half, as they started on their own 21-yard line.

The Steelers' offensive drive stalled quickly, as they were set back on the first play by a holding call on Spencer Anderson. Short passes got the offense near the line to gain, but they were forced to punt. On the punt however, the Browns ran into punter Corliss Waitman, and the Steelers got a new set of downs.

Two chunk plays of ten or more yards by Jonnu Smith and Jaylen Warren kept the drive moving after the Steelers were granted more time. Rodgers then found top wideout DK Metcalf for a 25-yard pass, putting the Steelers just outside the redzone. A 10-yard Warren rush put the Steelers in the redzone.

The Steelers then got the first touchdown on the board, as Rodgers found fourth-string tight end Connor Heyward in the endzone for a 15 yard catch to make it 16-3.

The Browns made it down the field once again, and stalled on the other side of the field before having Andre Szmyt kick a 53-yard field goal to make it 16-6.

On the next Steelers drive, the Steelers were able to move down the field with ease. Part of the reason why was the first career reception by Steelers second year wide receiver Roman Wilson, who caught a 12-yard dot from Rodgers. The Metcalf and Rodgers connection from the previous couple weeks emerged once again, as Rodgers put an incredible arc on the ball to find Metcalf in the end zone and make it a 23-6 game.

The Browns moved down the field, but stalled just outside the redzone. Then, a holding call on defensive back Jalen Ramsey and an unnecessary roughness on DeShon Elliot put the Browns 8 yards from the end zone. A pass interference put the Browns on the 3-yard line. Then a Nick Herbig sack set them back eleven yards before incomplete passes had the Browns kick their third field goal of the game. Szmyt made the kick from 32 yards out and it became a 23-9 game.

The final offensive drive for the Browns did little for their offensive statistics, but had a different effect on the Steelers defense. Ramsey and Herbig both achieved their second sacks of the game on second and third down respectively.

The Steelers then took the field and Boswell missed a field goal, keeping the game at 23-9. The ensuing Browns drive had them slowly move down the field as the clock drained, and they reached the redzone at the two-minute warning off a 24-yard catch by Harold Fannin Jr. They would then fail to score on fourth down in the redzone, allowing the Steelers to drain the clock and win with a final score of 23-9.